Oh my goodness! What a bombshell of an idea from Mr. Derek Burgess as announced from his very own lips on the floor of this New Populist House of Parliament: "All foreign workers should be required to carry an identification card on their person at all times, which would include their work permit number, place of origin, length of permit and place of employment...'' etc, etc.

Now, why not make it much easier on the soon-to-be-all-Bermudian Police Force and Army?... Why should they have to stop these "guest'' workers in public places and ask to be shown this ID, possibly resulting in unnecessary animosity between Bermudians and non-Bermudians?... A much better approach would be to issue all foreign workers with a cheerful, shall we say banana yellow (to lend a little Island flavour) arm band, to be worn at all times in public places on the upper right arm over any clothing. This would bear a symbol for the place of origin, with immigration number below. Suitable symbols would be: a black maple leaf signifying Canada, a star and stripe representing the USA, and a ring of stars symbolising an EU country.

Roll on the New Bermuda, let's show those tourists once and for all how well we police this model, soon-to-be independent State.

SINGING THE BLUES IN RED City of Hamilton Trial notes a farce March 18, 1999 Dear Sir, I find it incomprehensible that, in this day and age, we still don't have a full-time stenographer for the Supreme Court. Why should we have to rely on (potentially) incomplete notes taken by the presiding judge? We only need to look at the case that is presently being heard by the Court of Appeal to see the confusion caused by using judge's notes as "the law in this jurisdiction'' ( Royal Gazette , March 18, 1999). In this case, a man may go free for allegedly having sex with his 13-year-old niece because there are questions about the judge's trial notes! Out of all the money spent on this year's budget, the Ministry of Finance couldn't find $50,000 to hire a stenographer? Priorities? Hah! Not much is more important than Justice.

DOUBTING THOMAS City of Hamilton Hospital to be proud of March 15, 1999 Dear Sir, While visiting my son and daughter-in-law in Bermuda I fell ill with a nasty chest infection which necessitated spending five days in KEMH. I was very apprehensive about being admitted but I was soon put at ease by the wonderful compassionate care I received from the Emergency Department Staff.

You have a hospital to be proud of and through your newspaper I would like to thank all those in Curtis Ward, Physio Department Laboratory Staff, Chef and Kitchen staff and the cheerful ward cleaners who all were so kind to me during my stay.

Dr. Cressall and his staff, thank you so much. I will go home with fond memories of your kindness.

MRS. JEAN LAURIE (MCCREIGHT) Paget Seeking a monopoly March 15, 1999 Dear Sir, Where there is smoke there is fire! As a small grocery retailer in Bermuda I am just about fed up with this so-called price war on cigarettes. After reading the Bermuda Sun (Friday, 12th edition) with this new Bermuda way of doing business in the form of Cassia's advert. I can only believe that all they are interested in is having a monopoly for them and driving small businesses like myself out into the streets. I am told that they started the business to stop the present supplier from having total control of the market.

Well who is really involved with Cassia anyway? I mean besides the names I read in the paper. And if they are the small guys on the street, then please tell me what business are they really in. Are they a wholesaler or retailer? If government is going to protect anyone it will be me who retails and employs Bermudians and has to compete with Cassia who believes it is OK to stand on both sides of the street with their hands out. The company that Cassia refers to as having a monopoly since the day they purchased their competitor has always given my store the very best price and service that I receive from any supplier in Bermuda.

After the day they had purchased the other tobacco supplier, I received a call and was told because of the new volume that they would have, my store would receive a lower price on cartons of cigarettes and that I would be competitive to the market price. I can tell you that they were right and I and many others have been doing very well since that day. Now Cassia has established links with a supermarket chain to promote with adverts the lowest price on cartons and at the same time they are re-establishing several retail outlets from the previous supplier that directly competes with the smaller business in the island. Well I have contacted my Government leader and have given him my assessment of the practices that this company is doing business in our island.

I have also told him that I would be very annoyed if Government gave any assistance to the cries of Cassia and he can be assured that I would never support their operation.

23 YEARS AS SMALL BUSINESS OPERATOR City of Hamilton Delinquent no longer March 16, 1999 Dear Sir, I read with interest and some sympathy your account of the Auditor's comments regarding the delays caused to his audits by various bodies including Parish Councils. The Hamilton Parish Council was included among those whose accounts were overdue, I must confess that while we have had our difficulties in meeting deadlines in the past this is no longer the case. This council's accounts are up to date and have been audited to March 31, 1998. The next audit period is from April 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999 and audit documents for that period cannot be said to be overdue at this date.

The Hamilton Parish Council would be most grateful if you would remove our name from the list of Parish Councils delinquent in providing audit information on a timely basis to the Auditor general.

DONALDO S. LAURENCEO 3RD Chairman Hamilton Parish Council The citizenship debate March 12, 1999 Dear Sir, I write in connection with the citizenship discussions going on between Britain and Bermuda and trust that an amicable solution can be arrived at. I feel that there are many Bermudians, mainly younger people, who will reap many benefits from being able to access the many facilities offered by a larger country, not to mention educational and sport. As regards the problem of our hanging law being still on our books, my personal feeling is that we have many people sitting in prison, at the taxpayers expense, of whom there is no doubt about their guilt, and they should have been hanged at the outset, no reprieve. But, having said that, they weren't hanged, and never will be despite the majority vote, so we may as well clear this off the books. the majority are not going to win on this one -- unfortunately.

It occurs to me that if this agreement with Britain is confirmed, then there should be careful consideration given to the fact that this agreement is not reciprocal -- EXCEPT -- there are a few individuals in the UK who have strong family connections with Bermuda, i.e. moved here with parents as children, but just after the age of six years, children of one parent who has subsequently married a Bermudian and they now have a Bermudian step-parent, children born here to non-Bermudians who, I understand, are deemed to be Bermudian until they reach their 16th birthday.

There may be a few other situations, but I do feel that these people should be given a chance to reside here. The numbers would not overcrowd the island, and each case could be considered by the Immigration Officers on its own merit, but it would help to reunite families whose only reason for living apart, is the work permit situation. If a person cannot become a "paper'' Bermudian at least some form of security, as with the latest residential situations. Those of us committed to Bermuda do miss our families terribly.

I personally would be most grateful for comments on this subject and the consideration of the Department concerned.

P. THOMAS City of Hamilton A senseless tragedy March 16, 1999 Dear Sir, Please allow me a space in your editorial to express my anger and frustration at irresponsible pet owners. Too many times I have read articles in The Royal Gazette that tell the sad story of a beloved family pet that has been killed or maimed by a loose/stray dog. My heart always grieves for the pet's owners because I too have pets. Many people who read this letter who don't have any pets will not understand the grief that a person feels when a beloved family pet is tragically killed.

This past Sunday, March 14, my baby, and I refer to him as such, was senselessly killed by another dog. My loving and affectionate friend of the last 11-and-a-half years died a horrific bloody death in his own yard! Unfortunately, I have no idea who the dog's owners are, nor was I witness to this attack. Thank God for that because the aftermath has burned images in my memory that one day I hope to forget. "Bigga'', that was his name, did not deserve to have his life snuffed out so brutally. He deserved to die peacefully in his sleep of old age. He was not a young dog. He was not a big dog, in fact he was rather small, hence the name "Bigga''. This senseless tragedy has not only affected myself and my Mother but also our other dog who had been his companion for the last eight years.

I implore all pet owners, please, keep your animals penned in their own yards.

Whether it is a fenced in area, a kennel or invisible fencing, please keep them on your property. If you see a strange dog in your neighbourhood, report it. If all pet owners accept more responsibility then maybe we can prevent another beloved family pet from being killed.

To all of those "pet'' owners, and I use that term loosely, who train their dogs to fight or to be aggressive; I pray that your dog doesn't turn on you or someone/something you love with bloodlust for the kill. It is the nature of the beast that dogs will fight, but to train domesticated animals to be that aggressive is indeed the Master's fault.

For now a lot of the reports have been other small dogs or cats, when will people start caring about these vicious dog attacks, when it is a small child or an adult that is killed? L. PAULA SAINTS Warwick